Think big to banish kid obesity

There are around 2.5 million obese children in the UK. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a public health crisis.

There are all sorts of health problems that excess weight can cause. And if no action is taken, those problems will continue throughout these children’s lives.

Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all on the rise.

Obesity among the general population has just about doubled in the past 23 years.

The associated costs to the NHS, direct and indirect, are estimated at around £50bn. Out of a £125bn budget, that is a high proportion.

Medical experts have labelled the obesity epidemic the most serious crisis the country is facing. They are urging the Government to pull out all the stops to tackle it.

That will take planning on a macro level. It will involve a new approach to healthcare – a focus on prevention. And that will mean everyone buying into a large-scale rethink.

The health service will have to improve communication about the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise. Schools and local authorities will have to do the same.

And the private sector will have to take responsibility – clearer labelling on foods, for example. That will take a while.

In the meantime, there is something the Government could do that would have an immediate impact. Fund the NHS properly.

Today we bring you the story of 10-year-old Kyon Fritz Marriott. NHS cuts mean he faced being denied the treatment he needed. With a properly funded NHS that wouldn’t be the case. The maths are simple: Kyon could get the help he needs now at a weight-loss camp at a cost of £4,000. Or he could wait two years for surgery at more than double the cost.

Sorting out a situation like this would mean that the Government is taking this problem seriously. That’s the way to defuse this obesity timebomb – one step at a time.